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The Painted Cove Trail Oregon and The Painted Hills did not disappoint for our inaugural run in the van! Honestly, what better way to spend our first weekend in our new van, than by heading to a place in Oregon we’ve both been wanting to see for years?
If you’ve never heard of the Painted Hills, it’s part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Oregon. The John Day Fossil Beds are separated into three units, The Painted Hills Unit being the most popular area visited.
While not quite in Eastern Oregon, the Painted Cove Trail is quite the trek from most places in Oregon. It’s located at nearly the end of an out and back highway, The Journey through Time Scenic Byway. And is one of only five hikes in the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.
With that said, the Painted Cove Trail in Oregon is not one to be missed!
Painted Cove Trail Oregon Fast Facts
Length | 1/4 mile round trip loop
Elevation Gain | about 40 feet
Difficulty | easy
Time Required | 20-40 minutes
Location | Painted Hills Unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Fees | free
Parking | limited parking at the trailhead, not recommended for RVs
Accessibility | handicap accessible for boardwalk part, not the rest
Shade | only in one small area with one bench
Our Experience On The Painted Cove Trail
We loved our time on the Painted Cove Trail, and in fact, all throughout the national monument. We enjoyed the short yet beautiful hikes throughout the painted hills, the Painted Cove Trail and the Painted Hills Overlook being our favorites.
Walking up close and personal with the painted hills made us feel like we were in a completely different world. We didn’t know places like this really existed in Oregon and found ourselves time and time again just in awe of the beauty of our home state.
Like always, photography and videography slowed down our time on the Painted Cove Trail, something that we’re always so grateful for. Allowing us to really take in the scenery and the little details of the place!
It was just what both of us needed when feeling like travel is so out of reach during this time in our lives, and we reckon a visit there will help you feel as if you’ve traveled somewhere totally different too! Walking through the Painted Cove Trail should be something everyone should experience! It’s short and sweet, yet leaves you breathless.
Painted Cove Trail Oregon Information
Painted Cove Trail Popularity
This is the most popular hike in the Painted Hills of Oregon. When you get there, you’ll notice the boardwalk from nearly every picture you’ve seen of the Painted Hills. With that said, when we went in October, there were only two other groups of people there during the entire 1 hour we spent in the painted cove. And for a portion of that time, we had the place all to ourselves!
Painted Cove Trail Services
There are toilets, trash, and drinking water only in the picnic area at the very beginning of the Painted Hills Unit. You will need to pack out any garbage that you pack in, and if you have bathroom issues, bring a portable toilet with you. While there are no picnic tables at the Painted Cove, there is a bench to sit on and enjoy the view.
The Painted Cove Boardwalk
The Painted Cove Trail is partially done with a boardwalk. This area allows you access up close and personal with the painted hills. The boardwalk is only a small portion of this trail though, and there are steps going up and around completing the loop on gravel and uneven ground, so don’t expect it to be fully accessible the entire hike.
The Painted Cove Loop
Heading to the right when you get to the Painted Cove Trail, you’ll head first to the backside of the painted cove. Here you’ll find colors of lavender and rust in the rocks of the painted hill. Heading this way allows for you to enjoy the boardwalk section last — a good way to skip that section if there are people there when you arrive.
This also grants the views of the painted cove from above as you walk down into the cove and through the boardwalk. In the early parts of the year, you’ll also have views of a lake just beyond the painted cove, it was dried up when we visited in October.
Destroying the Painted Hills
When visiting this place, please be sure to stay on the very clearly marked trails. Selfish people have gone off-trail and have totally ruined different parts of the painted hills. Going off-trail for a picture or different view is not worth the damage you do to the painted hills, and the views you ruin for those who visit after you.
Driving To The Painted Cove Trail Oregon
Within the Painted Hills Unit
The road to the trailhead, and in fact the entire road in the Painted Hills unit is dirt, wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other in most places. It is not recommended for RVs or those pulling trailers to drive to the Painted Cove. Instead, there is a large area to park your RV at the Painted Hills Overlook. Park there and walk or maybe try and catch a ride to the Painted Cove Trail.
Getting to the Area
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is really in the middle of nowhere. It’s roughly four hours (200 miles) from Portland and nearly two hours (70 miles) from the Bend / Redmond area. The drive is gorgeous though. This area of Oregon is unlike any other.. we suggest planning more time in the area, and maybe even camping and one of these free campsites in the area!
Hikes Near The Painted Cove Trail Oregon
Leaf Hill Trail
This is a short, 1/4 mile hike in the Painted Hills Unit going through an area of rich fossil discovery. Like the Painted Cove Trail, this hike is very flat, and very short too!
Red Scar Knoll Trail
This is the final trail at the end of the road through the Painted Hills. It’s 1/2 of a mile out and back hike, offering the most shade in the entire park, outside of the picnic area at the beginning of the road.
Painted Hills Overlook
This hike is an out and back, or what we like to call and up and back. It’s all uphill, in the sun, to the edge of the viewpoint. Though, the views here are more than worth the short hike in the sun!
Exactly as the name suggests, it’s an overlook of the Painted Hills. This hike is the furthest point in the park the RVs and trailers are recommended to go.
Carroll Rim Trail
This 1.6 miles out and back brings you up higher than the Painted Hills Overlook, leaving you looking at the painted hills from above. This hike is in the sun the entire duration and is easily the most difficult hike in the park. Not that it’s extremely strenuous, however, do pay attention to the heat!
Places to Stay Near The Painted Hills
AirBnB | AirBnB is a great option for finding a place to stay near the Painted Hills however, prices are pretty high. With many people offering entire homes for rent on AirBnB, you could have a whole home to yourself. This is a great option for saving money on food and being able to spend more on adventures!
If you’re hoping to stay with a local, don’t worry, AirBnB offers local stays too! What a great way to find out even more about the local area and even other places you may be traveling to!
We recommend using the map version of the search tool. That way you can see where the homes are in relation to the Painted Hills.
Hotel Stays | If staying in someone else’s home doesn’t tickle your fancy, search for hotels in John Day here. There aren’t any hotels very close to the Painted Hills, but 1.5 hours away is John Day, and there are hotels there. It’s not a big town, but it’s the biggest in the area, and you’ll have the best chances for a hotel stay there.
Camping | Camping is a great money saver and memory maker! And honestly, the best way to stay close to The Painted Cove trail. There are many places to stay for free in the area as well as proper campsites around too!
Getting To The Painted Cove Trail in Oregon
Flying | Portland brings in one of the biggest airports on the west coast of the United States. Look for flights from your location to PDX(or Portland, Oregon). This is the search engine we use when booking flights. Fly into Portland then, head east along the Columbia River Gorge (also a beautiful place), and south down to the Painted Hill Unit of John Day Fossil Beds.
Learn how to get the best prices on flights to Oregon here.
Rental Cars | If you’re not from the area or don’t have your own car, you’ll want to rent a car to get around the Painted Hills, maybe even plan a proper Oregon road trip! There’s not much public transportation in Oregon, and it’s always nicer to have your own car when visiting a place of such spectacular scenery. Full disclosure here, you’ll also be in the middle of NOWHERE when visiting the Painted Hills — so you’ll really need your own car!
Training | Amtrak trains offer trains right into Downtown Portland. You can then rent a car and drive over to the Painted Hills. They connect larger cities all over the United States. However, fair warning — training in the United States is NOTHING like training in Europe!
More Posts On Things to Do in Oregon
This is an area of the Painted Hills National Monument you don’t want to miss!
A fantastic secret hot spring in Eastern Oregon.
Yes, we truly mean the best places. After cycling the entire Oregon Coast, we’ve got a good idea of the don’t miss viewpoints and best coastal towns to visit!
Both being from Southern Oregon and really spending a lot of time exploring the great outdoors, we’ve got a good list of things to do in Southern Oregon we think you’ll like! We’re including Crater Lake National Park, our favorite swimming holes, and even tips on Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor!
The best is yet to come… the national park and national monuments in Oregon are rich in beauty. With hot springs, more awesome hikes, painted hills, and even caves, Oregon’s national monuments, and parks have a little something for everyone!
Our Oregon page is full of unique things to do in Oregon. Find river access points, hikes, waterfalls, hot springs, and even information on cycling the Oregon Coast here!
Planning a trip to Bend? Wanting to visit Smith Rock State Park? Central Oregon is home to some of Oregon’s finest.. even outside of the winter months when you’ll find snow-covered peaks and snow-filled roads!
Things to do in Northern Oregon | Exploring Outside of Portland
Our Northern Oregon post is just like this one. You get to read and see all the things we recommend in Northern Oregon. Hiking, waterfalls, scenic viewpoints, you name it, it’s there!
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